Coin holder and coin dispenser

ABSTRACT

A coin holder and coin dispensing device which is of such size and shape that it will fit conveniently in the hand of the user, and of such construction that it permits the selective dispensing of coins from the holder by movement of the thumb of the hand which holds the dispensing unit. The mechanism consists of a generally circular, box-like base having radially-spaced, vertically-extending, cylindrical passageways formed therein for holding stacks of coins, and a top or cover element that is provided with dispensing slots of such shape that the coins normally are held securely in the device, while at the same time permitting convenient sidewise movement of the coins when dispensing is desired. The coins are held in the dispensing position by being pressed against inwardly extending ledges, provided at the edges of the dispensing slots in the top closure element, by a spring and piston disc arrangement operating in each of the passageways in which the coins are stacked.

United States Patent [191 Meijer 51 May 8, 1973 [52] 11.5. CI ..l33/6 [51] Int. Cl. ..G07d 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..133/6, 5, 8,1;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,256 6/1958 Cobb, Jr ..220/2l 2,829,777 4/1958 Berardinelli.... 1....l33/6 X 861,568 7/1907 Wolfe et al. ..l33/6 1,447,974 3/1923 Field ..133/6 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ltaly 133/6 Germany ..l33/6 j/ .1 4 7 2/ i ZZZ I I 47 Z2 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg AttorneyPaul J. Glaister [57] ABSTRACT A coin holder and coin dispensing device which is of such size and shape that it will fit conveniently in the hand of the user, and of such construction that it permits the selective dispensing of coins from the holder by movement of the thumb of the hand which holds the dispensing unit. The mechanism consists of a generally circular, box-like base having radiallyspaced, vertically-extending, cylindrical passageways formed therein for holding stacks of coins, and a top or cover element that is provided with dispensing slots of such shape that the coins normally are held securely in the device, while at the same time permitting convenient sidewise movement of the coins when dispensing is desired. The coins are held in the dispensing position by being pressed against inwardly extending ledges, provided at the edges of the dispensing slots in the top closure element, by a spring and piston disc arrangement operating in each of the passageways in which the coins are stacked.

1 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNAY' 8W 3.731.695

sum 1 or 2 COIN HOLDER AND COIN DISPENSER The present invention relates to coin holders and coin dispensers of the type that can conveniently be carried in a purse or in the pocket of the user. More particularly, the invention relates to a coin holder and coin dispenser of this type which is of such size and shape that during use it can be held in the hand of the user, and of such construction that it will receive coins of various denominations and will provide for the selective dispensing of such coins from the holder by movement of the thumb of the hand which holds the device.

The principal object of the present inventio'n is to provide an improved coin holder and dispenser in accordance with the foregoing which will operate more efficiently and more satisfactorily than the devices which have been available in the past, which will utilize a minimum number of parts and which can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Another object to the invention is to provide a unitary coin holder and dispenser, the capacity of which can be readily increased in incremental steps depending upon the use to which the device is to be put.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin holder and dispenser which will include means integral with the device for indicating how many coins are contained therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a light weight, readily-portable coin holder and dispenser of small size that is adapted for single hand operation and that can be assembled from a series of standardized parts which include means integral with those parts, for assuring that all of the said parts will be assembled automatically in accurate and proper alignment with each other.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent in the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa coin holder and coin dispenser in accordance with the present invention. 2

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the coin holder and dispenser unit shown in FIG. 1. The view is taken substantially on the line 2-2 of that figure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base element of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the base element shown in FIG. 3, taken on the line 44 of that figure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of a portion of the FIG. 1 coin holder and dispenser, illustrating the manner in which coins are dispensed during use of the device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the slotted top or cover element forming part of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front, elevational view of the slotted top or cover element illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the slotted top or cover element taken on the line 88 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one of the coin-feeding disc elements embodied in the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the coin feeding disc unit shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an extender ring unit which can be used to increase the coin holding capacity of dispensers of the general type illustrated in the other figures of the drawings.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the extender ring unit ofFIG. 1 l; and

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view partially in section of a complete coin holder and dispenser which includes three of the extender ring units.

The coin holder and dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a box-like, flat-bottomed, base element 15 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is circular in outline. The base element 15 is provided with four, radially-spaced, vertically-extending, cylindrically-shaped passageways 16, 17, 18 and 19, of such size that each will contain a stack of the coins which are to be dispensed. Each passageway should be slightly larger then the coins which are to be received therein. Normally, a clearance of from about 15 to 30 thousandths of an inch will be adequate. The FIG. 1 device is designed to hold U. S. pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, but it obviously can be designed to hold other U. S. coins or the coinage of other countries.

Conveniently, the base element 15 may be molded in one piece of a suitable plastic, or it may constitute a die casting. In either case, it will be found desirable to form additional passageways 21 in the walls of the element and other passageways 22, 23 and 24 centrally of the element. These passageways 21, 22, 23 and 24 will decrease the weight of the base element 15 and can be used as part of an automatic positioning means for the other parts of the coin holder and dispenser, as will be hereinafter described. To improve the appearance of the finished dispenser, the passageways 21, 22, 23 and 24 do not extend entirely through the bottom of the base element.

A circular, coin-feeding disc 25 is positioned for movement within each of the coin-containing passageways 15 to 19, and each of these discs 25 is biased upwardly by a suitable spiral spring 27. Each disc is approximately the same diameter and, as shown particularly in FIG. 5, each is substantially (about 50 to percent) thicker than the coins which will be moved thereby. This assures free up and down movement of each disc 25 in the coin receiving passageway wherein it moves, while at the same time preventing accidental ejection of the feeding disc when all of the coins in any particular stack have been dispensed.

The coin-feeding discs 25 and the coins which will be placed on top these discs are held in the coin-containing passageways in the base element 15 by a slotted, top or cover member 29 which as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 6 is generally circular in outline. The slots 31 in the top or cover member 29 are undercut, as shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, so as to provide ledges 33 which overlie the side edges of the adjacent coin receiving passageways. The slots 31 and the ledges 33 are of such dimensions that the ledges 33 will engage the top side edges of the coins and/or the cooperating coin feeding discs 25 to hold them from vertical movement out of the coin-containing passageways l6, l7, l8 and 19 in the base element 15.

To assure free sidewise movement of the coins during the dispensing operation, the vertical height of the undercut at the sides of the slots 31 is somewhat greater than the maximum thickness of the coins which are to be fed therefrom. From 10 to 25 thousandths of an inch is usually sufficient. As previously noted, the coin feeding discs 25 are substantially thicker than the coins with which the discs coact. This assures that the discs 25 will be retained in the coin-containing passageways by the overhanging ledges 33 provided at the sides of the coin feeding slots 31, and will not be accidentally pushed out the dispensing slots during use of the dispenser.

To facilitate assembly of the dispenser units and to assure against displacement of the coin feeding springs 27, the base element is provided, centrally of each of the coin-containing passageways 16 to 19, with a recess 35 for engaging and positioning the lower end of the coin feeding spring 27 which will be located in that passageway. Similarly, each of the coin feeding discs is provided with a recess 37 for receiving and holding the upper end of the cooperating coin feeding spring 27.

The spiral, coin feeding'springs 27, when uncompressed are generally conical in form, and of such dimensions that the springs will compress flat when in use. This is in order to permit the maximum number of coins to be received in each of the coin-containing passageways when the dispenser is being loaded. To properly engage and position the springs 27, each of the recesses in the base element 15 will necessarily be of greater diameter than the recess 37 in the overlying coin feeding disc 25.

Conveniently, as previously noted, the base element 15, the coin feeding discs 25 and the slotted top closure member 29 are molded parts. This facilitates the formation of the cylindrical or other passageways 21, 22, 23 and 24 in the walls intermediate the coin holding passageways, and if the slotted top 29 is provided with one or more spaced extensions or projection 39 for engagement with the passageways 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the top 29 will be automatically aligned with the base 15 on assembly. Moreover, by proper correlation of the dimensions of the projections 39 and the passageways 22 which are engaged by those projections, to provide a press fit engagement, the top 29 will be securely and permanently attached to the base 15 as an incident to the assembling of the parts.

If desired, additional projections or protrusions, similar to the projections 39, and additional cooperating passageways, similar to the passageways 22 and preferably located in the rim portion of the base element 15, can be provided to accomplish a more secure attachment of the top to the base. Here again, the additional projections or protrusions should engage the cooperating passageways in the base element with a secure, press-fit.

Alternatively to the referred press-fit assembly procedure, the base member 15 and the top 29 can be fastened together by an adhesive or by a suitable screw fastening. If a screw fastening is used, it can pass through a suitable opening in the top, as indicated by the dotted outline 40 in FIGS. 6 and 7, to engage a threaded section 23 provided at the bottom of the passageway 23. i

To indicate the number of coins in each of the coin receiving passageways 16 to 19, the side edges of the base member 15 can be provided with vertical slots, as illustrated at 43, and with suitable indicia which will register with the coins or the coin feeding discs 25 to show how many coins are in each passageway.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which coins can be inserted into or dispensed from the device of the invention. When any one of the coin receiving passageways 16 to 19 of the device is empty, the coin feeding disc 25 located in that passageway will be held against the ledges 33 located at the side of the cooperating dispensing slot 31 in the top element 29 To insert coins into an empty coin passageway in the device, it is necessary merely to depress the edge of the disc 25 located in that passageway by inserting a coin in the proper slot 31 in such manner that the side edges of the coin will be beneath the coin holding ledges 33. The coin can then be moved sideways into the slot 31 until it overlies the adjacent disc 25, whereupon it will align with the coin receiving passageway. The coin will then be held in position in the slot 31 against the adjacent ledges 33 by the biasing action of the coin feeding spring 27 acting against the coin feeding disc 25. A stack of coins to the capacity of the passageway can be built up by inserting additional coins in the same manner. The addition of each new coin will cause the adjacent lower coin or coins to move downwardly into the coin receiving passageway.

When it is desired to dispense coins, the device is held in the palm of the hand, and the desired coin can then be moved sideways out of the device by pressure of the thumb of the thumb of the hand wherein the device is held. This is shown in FIG. 5, where a partially dispensed coin is illustrated at 46. Only one coin will be dispensed from any of the slots 31 at a time, and the coin holder and dispenser can be easily rotated to dispense any desired number of coins from the several stacks contained in the device. Convenient one-hand. operation is thus provided.

In some instances it will be found desirable to increase the capacity of the coin holder and dispenser. This can readily be accomplished in structures of the general type described in the foregoing by the use of extender-ring units, as shown at 47 in FIGS. l1, l2 and 13. The extender-rings 47 are similar in form and dimensions to the base element 15, except as follows: The coin-containing passageways 16a, 17a, 18a and 19a are open at both ends. The passageways 22a are of the same size as the passageways 22 and are positioned to align with those passageways 22. However, each of the passageways 22a is closed at its lower end, and the ring unit itself includes integral extensions or projections 39a for engaging and keying with the passageways 22 in the base element 15, and with the similarly positioned passageways 22a in the extender ring units, when the units are being assembled. The other central passageway 23a may be dimensioned to slidably engage a screw fastening, such as is illustrated at 51.

To provide a coin holder and dispenser of increased capacity, it is possible, during the assembling of the complete unit, to include as many of the extender-ring units 47, as desired. Assembly of the unit will be facilitated by the integral keying extensions 39a which will engage the passageways 22a, provided in the ring units and the passageways 22 in the base 15. Also, the projections 39 provided in the top 29 will engage the passageways 22a in the upper extender-ring unit. If structural considerations so indicate additional interengaging projections and passageways can be provided.

As in the previously described structure, the projec- 'tions 39 and 39a and the passageways 22 and 22a engaged by those projections are desirably so dimensioned that the parts will engage with a secure press fit when the dispenser is assembled. The parts may also be fastened together by an adhesive and if desired or if needed. Increased capacity dispensers, including one or more extender-ring units can be held together by the screw fastening illustrated at 51. If used, the screw fastening 51 will extend through the central passageways 23a in each of the ring units 47 and a suitable opening, such as the opening 40, in the top closure element 29. Conveniently, it will finally engage the threaded portion 23 of the passageway 23 in the base element 15. If multiple extender units are used, it will probably be found necessary to utilize feeder springs of greater length than the springs 27 used in the single unit.

Increased capacity coin holders and dispensers which embody one or more of the extender-ring units 47 are loaded with coins in the same manner as the single unit embodiment previously described. The multiple unit devices will, of course, hold a considerably larger number of coins, but the loading and the sequential dispensing of individual coins will follow exactly the procedure described in the foregoing.

It will thus be seen that the present invention makes possible a coin holder and coin dispensing device which is of such size and shape that it will fit conveniently in the hand of the user and can be carried readily in a purse or pocket. Devices in accordance with the invention permits the selective dispensing of individual coins of any desired denomination or denominations simply by movement of the thumb of the hand which holds the device. The coin holders and dispensers disclosed utilize a minimum number of parts, and they can be easily and conveniently assembled. The devices embody means for assuring automatic and accurate alignment and interconnection of the parts during assembly and during use. Also disclosed is an arrangement whereby the capacity of coin holder and dispenser units in accordance with the invention can be easily and simply increased in incremental steps, and all embodiments of the invention includes a simple and effective arrangement for indicating the number of coins contained in the device.

I claim as my invention:

1. A coin holder and coin dispensing device, of such size and shape that it will fit conveniently in the hand of the user and of such construction that it provides for the selective dispensing of coins therefrom by movement of the thumb of the hand which holds the device, comprising a generally flat, closed-bottom, base element, that is generally circular in outline and that is provided with a plurality of radially spaced, vertically extending coin-receiving passageways, of such size that each will contain a stack of the coins which are to be dispensed, a coin-feeding disc and a biasing spring therefor located within each of the said coin-receiving passageways, unitary means for incrementally increasing the coin holding and coin dispensing capacity of the device which comprise one or more extender-ring units, each of which is of substantially the same size and outline as the base element and each of which is provided with radially-spaced, vertically-extending, coinreceivmg passageways which are open at both ends and are adapted to align with and form extensions of the coin-receiving passageways in the base element upon assembly of the device, a generally flat cover member for holding the stacks of coins in dispensing position, said cover member being provided with radiallyspaced, radially-extending slots, each of which is open at the outer end thereof, and one of which overlies each of the coin-receiving passageways, the portions of said cover member which define the sides of said openended dispensing slots being undercut to provide ledges which overlie opposite side edges of the underlying coin-receiving passageways to hold the coins in dispensing position and to prevent vertical movement of the coins out of coin receiving passageways, the dispensing slots being of uniform width, and of such dimensions that the coins to be received in and dispensed from the device can be freely moved sidewise therein when those coins are being dispensed, said base element, the extender-ring, capacity increasing means and the cover member including cooperating, interengaging passageways and projections of such form and dimensions that they will engage with a 1 secure, press-fit, frictional engagement when the base element, the extender-ring means and the cover member are assembled, and will thereby automatically effect both the proper relative positioning and the secure fastening together of the base element, the extender-ring means and the cover member. 

1. A coin holder and coin dispensing device, of such size and shape that it will fit conveniently in the hand of the user and of such construction that it provides for the selective dispensing of coins therefrom by movement of the thumb of the hand which holds the device, comprising a generally flat, closedbottom, base element, that is generally circular in outline and that is provided with a plurality of radially spaced, vertically extending coin-receiving passageways, of such size that each will contain a stack of the coins which are to be dispensed, a coinfeeding disc and a biasing spring therefor located within each of the said coin-receiving passageways, unitary means for incrementally increasing the coin holding and coin dispensing capacity of the device which comprise one or more extender-ring units, each of which is of substantially the same size and outline as the base element and each of which is provided with radially-spaced, vertically-extending, coin-receiving passageways which are open at both ends and are adapted to align with and form extensions of the coin-receiving passageways in the base element upon assembly of the device, a generally flat cover member for holding the stacks of coins in dispensing position, said cover member being provided with radially-spaced, radiallyextending slots, each of which is open at the outer end thereof, and one of which overlies each of the coin-receiving passageways, the portions of said cover member which define the sides of said open-ended dispensing slots being undercut to provide ledges which overlie opposite side edges of the underlying coinreceiving passageways to hold the coins in dispensing position and to prevent vertical movement of the coins out of coin receiving passageways, the dispensing slots being of uniform width, and of such dimensions that the coins to be received in and dispensed from the device can be freely moved sidewise therein when those coins are being dispensed, said base element, the extender-ring, capacity increasing means and the cover member including cooperating, interengaging passageways and projections of such form and dimensions that they will engage with a secure, press-fit, frictional engagement when the base element, the extender-ring means and the cover member are assembled, and will thereby automatically effect both the proper relative positioning and the secure fastening together of the base element, the extender-ring means and the cover member. 